Karl Bushby 2026: Where Is He Now and Why So Long

Karl Bushby left his home in Hull, England, in 1998 for a walk that was supposed to be a simple challenge. Twenty-eight years and 36,000 miles later, he’s almost back — but the last few miles have become a maze of bureaucracy and closed doors. Here’s where he is now, why it took so long, and what’s standing between him and his front door.

Years walked: 28 ·
Total distance: 36,000 miles (58,000 km) ·
Start year: 1998 ·
Expected finish: 2026 ·
Age at start: 29 ·
Available funds at start: $500

Seven key facts capture the scale of the Goliath Expedition — a journey that has taken Bushby across three continents and nearly three decades.

Where is Karl Bushby now in 2026?

Final leg in Europe

• By mid-June 2026, Bushby had reached Belgium and was nearing Calais, France (BBC News (June 2026)).
• He had been staying in Mexico earlier in the year, then returned to Belgium in September 2026 (The Telegraph).
• The journey through Europe has been largely on foot, adhering to his rule of no motorized transport.

Expected arrival in Hull

• Once he reaches the UK, Bushby plans to walk north to Hull and end the journey at his childhood home (BBC News).
• He originally expected to return by September 2026 (BBC News (2025)), but regulatory hurdles may delay that.

The implication: Bushby’s final miles are blocked not by distance but by legal barriers, turning the end of his journey into a political and diplomatic wait.

Why did it take Karl Bushby so long?

Geographic and logistical challenges

• The walk covers about 36,000 miles (58,000 km) across multiple continents (BBC News).
• Bushby has walked through South America, Central America, North America, Asia, and Europe.

Bering Strait interruption

• He reached the Bering Strait in 2006 and attempted to cross into Russia.
• Political and weather issues delayed him for several years (BBC News).
• Russian visa issues and the lack of a legal crossing point forced a long detour.

Visa and border issues

• Throughout the journey, Bushby has had to navigate visa requirements for dozens of countries.
• In 2025, he was waiting for a visa to resume the journey from Mexico (BBC News (2025)).
• In 2026, the biggest barrier is the English Channel: Eurotunnel officials denied his request to use a service tunnel (BBC News), and French law prohibits swimming from France to the UK (The Telegraph).

The pattern: each major delay has come not from physical obstacles but from geopolitical roadblocks, and the final crossing mirrors that trend.

How did Karl Bushby get money?

Sponsorship and donations

• He started with only $500 in his pocket (BBC News).
• Over the years, he has received sponsorship from various organizations and individual donors.

Book deals and speaking events

• Bushby has written about his experiences and given talks, including a planned appearance in Alberta, Canada in March 2026 (rdnewsNOW).
• Speaking engagements help fund the ongoing journey.

Social media and fan support

• He maintains an Instagram presence where he describes himself as “an adventurer walking the longest unbroken footpath.”
• Fans can follow his progress and contribute through online platforms.

What this means: his ability to finish depends on a fragile financial mix that leaves little room for prolonged delays.

Does Karl Bushby have a partner or children?

Marital status

• Information about his partner or wife is not publicly detailed in major sources.
• Related searches and his Instagram presence suggest limited public family information.

Children and family

• Some search queries indicate he may have a son, but this is unconfirmed by primary sources.
• No verified reports from major outlets (BBC, Telegraph, etc.) mention children.

The catch: a potential emotional homecoming remains speculative because no reliable source has confirmed the existence of a partner or children.

How long until Karl Bushby gets home?

Estimated timeline

• He is expected to complete the walk in 2026 (BBC News (2025)).
• NDTV reported a potential forced stop due to new regulations (source not in research notes, so we omit).

Current pace and distance remaining

• As of June 2025, he had under 2,000 miles remaining (BBC News (2025)).
• At his typical pace, that could be covered in months, but the Channel crossing problem could add indefinite delay.

The implication: the final timeline is no longer a matter of miles but of permissions—swimming, tunnel access, or exemption.

For Karl Bushby, the final miles are not about distance — they are about permission. The Eurotunnel denial and French swimming restrictions mean that a man who has walked 36,000 miles across deserts, mountains, and frozen straits may be stopped by a piece of paper. For the UK government and French authorities, the choice is clear: allow a special exemption, or watch a historic expedition end on a technicality.